We are all aware of the custom American wedding traditions – tossing the bouquet, something borrowed and something blue, exchanging of the rings and lighting a unity candle. But how many of you are aware of all the other amazing cultures and traditions that are happening around the world? That’s what this monthly blog is for – join us every month to dig into the spectacular wedding traditions of countries all around the world!

Wedding Insomnia? How to Sleep Before Your Big Day

Are you afraid that you’ll spend the night before your wedding staring at the ceiling instead of sleeping? People often have a hard time sleeping before big events, and a wedding certainly counts as a big event. However, it’s hard to dazzle the crowd as a couple if both of you are tired.

Many couples don’t put sleep on their priority list until it’s the night before the wedding. Other priorities can conflict. However, if you make sleep a priority in your planning, you can schedule activities that will help you sleep on the night before your big day.

Schedule Your Rehearsal Dinner Early

Many couples choose to have the rehearsal dinner the night before their wedding. It’s often the best timing when relatives are coming from out of town. If you want to have this traditional event but still sleep well, try to schedule it earlier in the day. Many rehearsal dinners have elaborate meals, and it’s good to give yourself time to digest before bed. If your stomach is still full when you go to bed, it can be challenging to sleep. Also, try to keep the dinner from conflicting with your regular bedtime. If you usually go to bed at 10 PM, make sure the event is over by then.

Serve Decaf Coffee and Avoid Alcohol

What you serve at the rehearsal dinner can also affect how well you and your guests sleep. The caffeine in coffee can keep people awake at night, so having decaf as an option allows your guests to drink coffee without the side effects. While many couples won’t consider a rehearsal dinner without alcohol, you may want to choose not to drink (or only drink a little). Although alcohol may make you feel sleepy, it can also wake you up later in the night or cause you to experience restless, low-quality sleep. Minimize or avoid alcohol and caffeine to sleep well.

Plan a Walk or Run

Making time to exercise may seem impossible in the bustle of wedding preparations, but it will help you fall asleep later that night. Plus, more introverted people may appreciate the break from the hubbub of wedding planning and guest hosting. Exercising together can also be an opportunity to spend some time together as a couple.

Download a Meditation App

If, despite your best planning, you still find yourself wide awake before your wedding, try downloading a meditation app. Several studies have suggested that meditation may help reduce stress and invite sleep. If you’ve been practicing in the weeks before, it may be more effective than whipping out the app for the first time the night before your wedding. You don’t have to have a yoga mat handy to practice meditation as part of a bedtime routine. Try to meditate while lying on your mattress. A soothing voice from a guided meditation app may help you drift off to sleep.

Write Out Your Worries

Some people find journaling before bed helps them organize and release their worries. It’s hard to stop planning and just let the wedding happen. If you must, you can write out a to-do list for the following day. It may prevent thoughts from buzzing about in your head. Another tactic is to write positive things that you’re grateful for. It helps to end the day on a high note instead of lost in worries. Even if you find yourself staring at your phone at 2 AM the night before your wedding, tell yourself that it’s okay. Stressing out about sleep won’t make it easier to drift off. However, planning activities that enable you to fall asleep may help. Hopefully, you’ll wake up on the morning of your wedding feeling rested.